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AIBU?

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Original poster

Sainsburys "Girl" Bag

113 replies

Kpo58 · 18/03/2016 13:13

Sainsburys is selling a bag that just says "girl" on it (pictured) for Sports Relief. They apparently also sell one that states “Everyone is Beautiful”, but I have never seen it in the shop, just the "girl" ones.

AIBU to think that the "girl" bag is sexist? I cannot think of any reason why someone would want a bag that says that on it. They don't have a "boy" bag and I would think that its very unlikely that a male would feel comfortable carrying it.

It's not a bag that would inspire a female to get into sports or feel that they can do non traditional female things more.

Do Sainsburys think that only females do the shopping? The only way they could of made the bag more sexist is to make it pink with lipstick marks on it. Angry

Sainsburys "Girl" Bag
OP posts:
GreenishMe · 18/03/2016 18:03

....yawn

starfishmummy · 18/03/2016 18:15

It's a bag. If you don't like it because of perceived gender stereotyping then don't buy it. Simple.

StandoutMop · 18/03/2016 18:23

Bag is fine with me, not my taste but doesn't offend.

The "too pretty to do maths" phone cover I saw in carphone warehouse on the other hand...

arahia · 18/03/2016 19:16

They are actually designer!

Bella Freud commented: “I am happy to be working with Sainsbury's on this project in support of Sport Relief. I chose these words to make people feel good and lift their spirits.”

IceBeing · 18/03/2016 20:02

girl is used in negative and derogatory ways all the time.

Don't cry like a girl, you look like a big girls blouse, you throw like a girl, you run like a girl, don't be a girl about it....

It is nearly as bad as 'ladies' as in 'come on ladies' in every american film involving soldiers ever...or 'have you two ladies finished' directed at men in bar fights usually...

Anyway, while 'girl' or 'lady' is used as a put down, I don't want to be associated with it, or described by it.

PurpleDaisies · 18/03/2016 20:07

I'm not seeing it. There are other cases of genuine sexism that are worth getting excited about but this isn't it.

It says girl. That's not a dirty word.

DioneTheDiabolist · 18/03/2016 20:11

Ice, what word do you use for young, female human?

Coastingit · 18/03/2016 20:58

I've got a sweater on right now from Selfish Mother. It is a plain grey sweatshirt and says 'Mother' across it in bold red capitals Shock

MrsDeVere · 18/03/2016 20:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LifeofI · 18/03/2016 21:20

Everything is sexiest these days, the sky is blue its being sexiest!

P.s the bag is ugly as hell so doubt the 'sexiest' bag will come back next year

Hmm
oliviaclottedcream · 18/03/2016 21:32

OK well.....I'd say a consensus has emerged here...OP anything in response

Original poster
Kpo58 · 18/03/2016 21:47

Seems that the consensus is very mixed here on whether or not it's sexist. Though it does appear to be agreed that it looks uninspired and even more shocking, by an actual designer.

I think that the most disappointing aspect of the bag is that there will probably be many left unsold as they are ugly (and look like they were designed by a child), which will mean far less money going towards Sports Relief.

OP posts:
MrsDeVere · 18/03/2016 22:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PurpleDaisies · 18/03/2016 22:28

Seems that the consensus is very mixed here on whether or not it's sexist.
Are we reading the same thread?

Lanark2 · 18/03/2016 22:34

Yfstj

PurpleDaisies · 18/03/2016 22:37

Is that an acronym or a typo lanark?

Lanark2 · 19/03/2016 00:39

Oh sorry Blush didn't know I'd done that! Typo..

Or..
Yes! Fucking Spiderman! , Totally! Ja!

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 19/03/2016 00:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MidniteScribbler · 19/03/2016 01:04

Tried to give a fuck. Failed.

Don't like it? Don't buy one.

curren · 19/03/2016 05:40

The word girl is not sexist.

It can be used in a derogatory way 'fight like a girl' etc.

But the word itself isn't sexist.

The bag isn't aimed at boys, how many do you think they would sell to boys?

It's called business. They sell what will sell.

I wished the current drive to keep girls and women more interested in sports was bigger and better.

curren · 19/03/2016 05:41

Seems that the consensus is very mixed here on whether or not it's sexist.

Love it when the OP reads the thread they would prefer rather than the thread that actually exists.

CosyNook · 19/03/2016 06:24

blearynweary "I love how AIBU is almost completely populated by anti feminists."

I would have said the opposite, There are frequently posts like this trying to encouraging feminist argument.

gunting · 19/03/2016 06:42

I have now, officially, seen it all.

Lovelydiscusfish · 19/03/2016 06:50

My reading of the bag (can't believe I've just typed that!) is that it is making an anti gender-stereotyping statement, as it is not covered in pink fluff and Elsa and other things frequently associated by society with girls, so it is not in that sense a "girly" bag - it is plain, has a striking design, is functional, and these things are also desirable by girls, and hence they have written "girl" on it to illustrate this point.
As such, I like it.
I didn't know the word "girl" was a derogatory term (except when applied to adult women in order to infantilise them - similarly calling grown men boys could be used as an insult). But if it is in general a derogatory term, I think we should set about reclaiming it forthwith, or we will have nothing to call female children!